ON what was a perfect day for cycling, 14 riders took part in the sixth race in the Kidman Law Spring Series.
The race was a 30km handicap event out and back along Attamurra Road.
Conditions were favourable for riders with a tailwind which supported them for the latter part of the race.
One of the benefits of handicapped racing is it allows for riders of varied abilities the opportunity to race for the victory, and so it proved again on the weekend.
Jason Buckland, Jen Buckland and Damian Buckley were the first riders away and had an 11-minute head start of the second group which consisted of John Cranwell, Spek Peake and Elmer Buckland.
Patrick Langsmith, Gerard Coote and Colin Weatherill followed two minutes later and four minutes after the third group departed, Niel van Niekerk, Jami Buckley, Craig Andrae and Matthew Opperman were allowed to begin their chase.
Nick Kidman was the final rider to set off in pursuit and started one minute behind the last group of riders.
The slight headwind on the outward leg kept the riders honest and forced them to work with each other in the groups to earn a rest from the breeze whilst they maintained their pace.
At the 10km mark, the group containing Langsmith, Coote and Weatherill had already caught the group ahead of them and Elmer Buckland, Cranwell and Peake joined onto the back of them.
At the turnaround, Damian Buckley, Jen Buckland and Jason Buckland’s remained in front, although their lead had diminished and looked to use the tailwind to their advantage on their way back.
With about six kilometres left to race, Jason Buckland was unable to hold onto the wheels of his group and slowly dropped behind, while Jen Buckland and Damian Buckley pressed on to try and hold off the riders in pursuit.
As they neared the final 1500 metres, the race was on and Damian Buckley timed his sprint to perfection to edge out Jen Buckland on the line.
The pair were less than 500 metres ahead of the riders who followed.
As speeds exceeded 55km/h, the faster riders powered past Jason Buckland ad contested the final place on the podium.
Weatherill won the sprint to take home third place, ahead of Langsmith, Coote, Cranwell and Elmer Buckland.
They were followed by van Niekerk, Opperman, Jason Buckland, Jami Buckley, Andrae, Kidman – who claimed the fastest race time – and Peake.
